“Why would I back down from it? It’s the right thing to do…we’ve got to be an inclusive party,” Bush said, according to the attendee.

On his support of Common Core educational standards, Bush noted, “I’m getting hit from both sides on this one.”

According to the attendee, Bush specifically singled out a recent column by The Wall Street Journal’s Peggy Noonan, an influential conservative voice who criticized Bush over his support for Common Core.

Bush defended himself, saying it was necessary to focus on education and the standards by which to measure performance in schools, the attendee said.